Throughput of Mariupol port down 31% to 2.77 million tonnes in Q1 08

In January-March, 2008, commercial seaport of Mariupol decreased its turnover by 30.8%, year-on-year, to 2.77 million tonnes, Interfax reports according to Gudok.ru. Transshipment of metal fell by 38.9%, year-on-year, to 1.189 million tonnes, coal – by 28.2% to 700,000 tonnes, alimuna – by 33.6% to 397,000 tonnes, grain – by 27.8% to 31,500 tonnes. Commercial seaport of Mariupol is one of three largest ports of Ukraine. The port’s berths are capable of handling vessels with length of up to 240 meters and draft of up to 8 meters. The port handles ferrous and non-ferrous metal, cast iron, ore, coal, coke, clay fertilizers, sulfur, equipment (including large size and heavy equipment), heavy fuel oil (ship-to-ship), grain, containers and packaged cargo. In 2007, the port handled 17.4 million tonnes of cargo (+9.9%, year-on-year).